Electrican&#39;s pliers for reaming conduits and applying terminal nuts



Oct. 17, 1950 LE GROS WHITE 2,525,180

ELECTRICIAN 'S PLIERS FOR REAMING CONDU ITS AND APPLYING TERMINAL NUTSFiled Feb. 7, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Le Gros Whize A TTORNEYSOct. 17, 1950 LE 6 s WHITE 2,5 6,180 v ELECTRICIAN 'S PLI FOR REAMINGCONDUITS AND APPLYING TERMINAL NUTS Filed'Feb. 7, 1948 1 2. Sheets-Sheet2 Patented Oct. 17, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELEUTRICIANS PLIERSFOR REAMING CON- DUITS AND APPLYING TERMINAL NUTS I... Gros White,Dallas, Tex. Application February 7, 1948} Serial N 0. 6,929

6 Claims. (01. 7-4.5)

A further object of the invention is to provide,

improved electricians pliers having a roller or rotatable sleeve mountedon one jaw for insertion into the end of a tube, or the annularfastening on the end of such tube, and an element on the other jawadapted to engage the outer periphery of a nut or washer screwed ontothe end of the tube, whereby upon rotation of the pliers the nut orwasher may be tightened orloosened,

and at the same time the flash or burr on the inner edge of the tubesmoothed or reduced by the rolling action of the sleeve.

Still another object of the invention is to provide improvedelectricians pliers particularly arranged for easily and expeditiouslytightening or loosening thenut and/or washer on the end of an electriccable or wiretube, which secure the end of the tube in the box andusually are so close to the side walls of the box as to be extremelydiflicult of access and almost impossible to turn with ordinary pliers.

A further object of the invention is to provide'improved' electricianspliers which may be employed to ream the inner portion of the end of atube such as" electrical conduit, or may be employed for trimming orsmoothing the outer surface of such a tube. f

Yet another object of the invention is to provide improved electricianspliers having provision for cutting wire, and also having provision forstripping the insulation from electrical'wire;

An important object, of the invention is to'provide a combination toolfor use as electricians pliers, the tool making provision for cuttingwire, for stripping the insulation from electrical wire, for reaming theinside of tubes such as electrical conduit, for trimming orsmoothingithe outsidjej of such tubes and for tightening and looseningjThe invention will be more readily understood from" a reading of' thefollowing specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings,wherein an example of the invention is shown, and wherein: V

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of electricians pliers constructed inaccordance with the invention,

Fig. 2 is a partial side elevation of a modified form of the pliers inposition on a nut secured on the end of a conductor tube within anoutlet 7 box, which latter are shown in dotted lines,

Fig. 3 isa plan view of the pliers shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the jaws of the pliers shownin Fig. 1, a portion of the roller sleeve being illustrated in section,

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a modified form of pliers constructed inaccordance with this invention,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged isometric view of the nose end of the pliers shownin Fig. 5,

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the pliers taken at right'an'gles to Fig.5,

Fig. 8 is an enlarged, vertical, cross-sectional view taken on the line8-8 of Fig. 5,

Fig. 9 is an enlarged, vertical, cross-sectional view taken on the line9-9 of Fig. 5, and

Fig; 10 is a fragmentary view in side elevation illustrating thesmoothing or trimming of the outside of a tube by means of the pliersillustrated in Fig. 5.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application,Serial No. 655,905, filed March 21, 1946, now abandoned.

In the drawings, the numerals l0 and Il, respectively, designate leverhandles similar to those of the ordinary pliers now in'common use. Thehandle [0 is provided with a jaw 12, while the handle H is provided witha jaw [3. At the intersections of the jaws and the handles, the handlesare reduced in thickness and. pivoted together by a pin 14 countersunkat its ends so as to lie flush with the sides of the handles. The jawsare cut away as indicated at l5 so as to. provide clearance for freeswinging of said handles.

,The jaw I2 is formed at its outer end with alongitudinal reduced shankl6 integral therewith. A roller sleeve H is rotatably confined on g theshank by upsetting the outer end of the shank The jaw 13 is curved atits outer end to form 3 an inwardly directed bill IS, the end of whichis beveled on each side to form a blunt lug 20. It will be observed thatthe lug stands opposite the inner end or base portion of the rollersleeve I1 and that the major portion of said sleeve extends outwardlybeyond said lug.

In Fig. 2, I have illustrated in dotted lines several elements of anelectric outlet box 2| and its component parts. These boxes are ofdifferent shapes and each has a side wall 22. It is customary to securethe end of a conductor tube 23 in an opening in the side wall of the boxand to provide the tube with a coupling 24 which engages the outer sideof said wall. The inner end of the tube is screw-threaded and receivesa'nut washer 25 which is provided with notches 26. In order to fastenthe tube in the box, it is necessary to screw the washer onto the tubeagainst the bottom or transverse plate 21 which connects the side walls.The tube projects beyond the washer and receives a ribbed lock nut 28,which is screwed onto the tube so as to bind against the washer.

In applying the washer and nut, it is necessary to first screw thewasher onto the tube and owing to the proximity of the side wall 22, itis practically impossible to use an ordinary pair of pliers, andtherefore, workmen, as a rule, employ a screw driver and a hammer totighten this nut. This is particularly laborious and unsatisfactory ifthe box is inverted and fastened in a ceiling. In using the pliersherein set forth, the lever handles are opened sufiiciently to insertthe roller sleeve in the end of the tube and engage the lug 20 in one ofthe notches 26. The workman then merely has to rotate the pliers inorder to tighten the washer. The roller forms a rotating bearing androlls around the inner surface of the tube. This rolling action willsmooth or reduce any inwardly projecting flash or rough metal on theinner end of said tube.

When the nut 25 has been fastened, the pliers are removed, and the nut28 is then screwed onto the end of the tube. The jaws are opened so thatthe roller sleeve I! may be inserted in the nut and the end of thetubing and lug 20 engaged with the ribbed outer surface'of said nut. Thenut may then be conveniently tightened by rotating the pliers. In Fig.2, I have shown a slightly modified form, in which the jaws i2 and I3are disposed at an angle to the lever handles Ii] and II, which makesthe pliers more convenient for overhead work; otherwise the constructionis the same. V

In Figs. through of the drawings, is illustrated a modified form of theinvention which is preferable, in certain respects, to the first formdescribed. This modified form constitutes more of a combination tool andis capable of carrying out more functions, especially in the electricaltrade, than said first form.

This modification, similarly to the first form, includes lever handles31] and 3!, the handle 33 being provided with a jaw 32 disposed at anangle thereto, while the handle 31 is provided witha jaw 33 alsodisposed at an angle to the latter handle or lever. The disposition ofthe jaws 32 and 33 at an angle with respect to the handles- 3| and 30make the pliersof the offset or gooseneck variety whereby moreinaccessible locations may be reached. At the intersections of the jawsand the handles, the latter are reduced in thickness and pivotedtogether by a suitable pin 34 countersunk at its ends so as to lie flushwith the sides of the handles, The jaws are cutaway 4 as indicated at 35to provide clearness for free swinging of said handles.

The jaw 33 is formed similarly to the jaw I2 and provided with a reduceddiameter, circular shank 36 upon its outer end. A roller sleeve 31 isrotatably confined on the shank 36 by upsetting the outer end 38 of thelatter. The inner portion 39 of the jaw 33 between the roller 3'! andthe cutaway 35, is substantially square in cross section with roundededges and provides a shoulder 40 against which the inner end of thesleeve 31 rides, and which projects laterally beyond the periphery ofsaid sleeve.

The opposite jaw 32 has a wedge-shaped or knife edge contour or crosssection, the apex of the wedge. being faced toward the jaw 33 asillustrated in Figs. 7, 8 and 9. When the pliers are in a closedposition, the apex 41 of the jaw 32 bears against the opposed face orside of the inner portion 39 of the jaw 33. With this structure, wireand other objects may be cut by closing the pliers with saidwiredisposed between the apex and the portion 39. Since this cuttingportion is disposed relatively close to the center of the pivot pin 34,a shearing or cutting action of considerable magnitude and force may beapplied by means of these pliers.

Along the outer portion of the jaw 32, the apex 4| is cut away orflattened at 42, the plane of the flattened portion or face 42 beingbelow, or away from the jaw 33 as compared to the plane of the cuttingedge 4 I. Thus, when the pliers are closed, as illustrated in Fig. 10, aspace or clearance is provided between the face of the sleeve 3! and theface 42. If desired, this face may be made substantially equal to thediameter of eight gauge electrical wire, and one use of this feature isthe stripping of insulation from such electrical wire. By compressing orgrasping the wire, with the insulation thereon, between the roller 31and the face 42, and closing the pliers, the face 42 is caused to shearthrough said insulation which is relatively soft. The pliers may then berevolved around the wire so as to shear the insulation on all sides, andmoved longitudinally with respect to the wire whereby the insulation isstripped therefrom. The. clearance between the face 42 and the roller 3!may arbitrarily be set at the diameter of commercial eight gaugeelectrical wire since this is the heaviest gauge ordinarily used.Lighterigauges' of wire may be stripped equally well since the face 42will be forced to shear nearly all the. way through the insulation ofeven sixteen gauge Wire, and the small annulus of insulation remainingis easily parted when the pliers are moved longitudinally along thewire. It is pointed out that the flattened face 42 prevents injury tothe conductor itself and thus makes for a more desirable strippingfunction.

The face 42 is also extremely advantageous for reaming the inside ofpipes or metal tubes such as the pipe conduits normally employed forelectrical' wiringfl. Since'insulated .wire is usually drawn throughsaid conduit after it has been cut, it is highly desirable to remove theburr normally caused by the cutting of the pipe or tube so asv to avoiddamage to the insulation of the electrical wire when it'is so passedthrough the end of the tube. ;To accomplish this desirable result, the.jaw 32 maybeinserted into the interior of thepipe so as to bring theface 42 to bear upon theburr which'is tobe removed. The roller. 3'! thenclamped ag ainst the annulus of the pipe by-closing the pliers, and thelatter rotated around the tube so as to cause the face 42 2. Pliersincluding, a pair of pivoted lever handles havingjaws, one of the jawspresenting a'surface of relatively small curvature to the opposite jaw,the opposite jaw being wedge-shaped with its apex facing the first jaw,a portion of the apex of the second jaw being provided with a knife edgeabutting the first jaw when the pliers trimmed or smoothed by reversingthis process and inserting the roller 31 into the interior of the pipe.The pliers thus willbe positioned as illustrated in Fig. wherein thepipe P is shown in dotted lines. Again, ,upon rotation of the plication,the roller 31 is inserted into the interior I of the tube or washer nut,and the outer end of the face 42 is engaged within the notch of saidnut. The pliers may then be revolved to tighten or loosen said nut muchin the same manner as previously described in connection with the firstform of the invention.

In this manner, an improved combination tool is provided with provisionfor being made for cutting wire and similar objects, for severing theinsulation upon electrical wire and stripping said insulation from theconductor, for removing burrs from the inside or outside of pipe andfortightening washers or washer nuts of the character described. f a

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof and.various changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in thedetails of the illustrated construction may be made, within the scopeofthe appended claims, without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Pliers including, a pair of pivoted lever handles having jaws, one ofthe jaws presenting a surface of relatively small curvature to theopposite jaw, the opposite jaw being wedge-shaped with its apex facingthe first jaw, a portion of the apex of the second jaw abutting thefirst jaw when the pliers are closed, and a portion of the apex of thesecond jaw being spaced from the first jaw when the pliers are closed.

are "closed, and a portion of the apex of the sec- 0nd jaw beingflattened and spaced from the first jaw when the pliers are closed. I

3. Pliers including, a pair of pivoted lever handles having jaws, aroller sleeve rotatably mounted on one jaw, the opposite jaw beingwedge-shaped and having its apex stepped, the roller being spaced fromthe apex when the jaws are closed.

4. Pliers including, a pair of pivoted lever handles having jaws, aroller sleeve rotatably mounted on the outer end of one jaw, theopposite jaw being stepped and having a knife edge engaging the innerend of the first jaw when the pliers are closed and having a flattenedportion opposite and spaced from the roller when the pliers are closed.7

5. Pliers including, a pair of pivoted lever handles having jaws, aroller sleeve rotatably mounted on the outer end of one jaw, the innerportion of the jaw projecting laterally beyond the periphery of thesleeve toward the opposite jaw, a knife edge on the inner portion of theopposite jaw adapted to abut the inner portion of the first jaw when thepliers are closed, and 'a blunt edge on the outer end of the second jawopposite the sleeve and spaced therefrom when the pliers are closed. 1 a

6. Pliers including, a pair of pivoted lever handles having jaws, anelongate shank onthe outer end of one jaw, an elongate sleeve rotatablyconfined on the shank, and a knife edge on the opposite jaw facing.the'first jaw and engaging the inner end of the latter jaw when thepliers are closed, the outer portion of the second jaw opposite thesleeve being flattened to form a blunt edge spaced from the sleeve whenthe pliers are closed.

LE GROS WHITE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent: V

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 644,932 Miller Mar. 6, 19002,233,046 Bowles Feb. 25, 1941

